Thirty-Four suspects have been held and seven victims rescued, as policemen in Imo smashed gangs of kidnappers and armed robbers in the state.
According to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Chris Okey Ezike, who held his inaugural briefing in Owerri, on Wednesday, 10 men were arrested for kidnapping, 12 for armed robbery, two for cultism, three for impersonating army officers, two for snatching Tricycles, three for theft, and two others for stealing a 6-year-old child.
One of the suspects allegedly died after a shootout with the police.
Ezike revealed that five kidnapped victims were rescued by his men, who also recovered four vehicles and three Tricycles, as well as three AK 47 rifles, two American made pistols, two locally made pistols and some ammunition.
Listing his achievements in his first week in office, Ezike named the rescued victims as Ben Kpaduwa, Rev. Ochemba Chibuzo, Chris Ohuruzor, ASP Christopher Obi, Chibuzor Iheme and the stolen child – Chinecherem Anoruo.
He urged parents and guardians to educate and warn their children/wards of the “ugly consequences of indulging in crime”.
He also urged “the good and law abiding people of the state to support and cooperate with the Police in achieving a relatively peaceful and secure Imo State”.
He told reporters at the briefing that he planned to put more policemen on the street, therefore he had ordered the withdrawal of several illegally deployed police aides, reduced office deployment by 40 per cent, reinvigorated the police monitoring unit, and he is ready to work with other security agencies, the Media, civil society groups, market organisations, tertiary institutions, corporate outfits and the general public to ensure peace and security in Imo.
“All PMF personnel and conventional policemen deployed to persons not entitled and without approval from the Inspector-General of Police shall be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
He also mentioned the development and implementation of a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) to enhance coordination to distress management and consequently reduce response time.
He said, “On April 3, 2017, one Ben Kpaduwa, of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (LGA), was kidnapped at Anara Town, Isiala Mbano, by unidentified armed men. Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command swiftly pursued the hoodlums to Ikpa Okorie in Ndibechukwu Aro Ndizuogu in Onuimo LGA but they escaped deep into the forest. The house of one of the gang members, one Chukwuemeka Obidike aka “Onye Anamaraekwe”, was condoned and searched and exhibits including arms and ammunitions were recovered.
“One Ugonwa Okpara who claimed to be wife of a member of the kidnap gang was arrested for interrogation. In furtherance of Police operations on April 4, the kidnap gang was traced to Ndiawa Aro Ndizuogu in Ideato North LGA, where they engaged the police in a shootout. One Chinedu Imo of Ndiawa Aro Ndizuogu Ideato North LGA, suspected to be a gang member sustained injuries while one Emmanuel Chika Ihemena was arrested with victim’s black Toyota Corolla car. The victim, Ben Kpaduwa was rescued on April 4. The injured gang member, Chinedu Imo was taken to the hospital for treatment where he was confirmed dead.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Anayo Oti Kalu Musa aka “General” identified to be a member of the kidnap gang responsible for the kidnap of one Mrs Ebi Tina aka Nwanyiocha at Oguta in December, 2016. He was arrested with locally made short gun. Investigation is still ongoing.
“Following the kidnap of Rev. Ochemba Chibuzo on his way back from his building site along Avu Layout Port Harcourt Road by four armed men on March 29, 2017, some suspects were arrested by operatives of the Command on April 1, 2017 for their involvement in the kidnap and victim rescued unhurt. Investigation is still ongoing and efforts are being made to apprehend two other fleeing members of the gang.
“Following the kidnap of one 33-year-old Chris Ohuruzor of Amuche Njaba L.G.A. and one ASP Christopher Obi, attached to Orlu Police Division, on March 26, 2017 by one of the most notorious/ wanted kidnap kingpin, operatives of the Command on information swung into action and trailed the suspect – Godstime Ikechukwu Okorafor to his hideout at Ogbosisi Owerri/Onitsha Road, Anambra State, where he was arrested with a black Lexus jeep. The suspect died in the hospital while taking treatment as a result of injuries sustained while attempting to escape from the Lexus jeep. He, however, made useful statements to the police confessing to have carried out series of kidnap activities within the state and its suburbs. Suspect also disclosed other members of his gang currently at large. Efforts are being made to track them while investigation is ongoing.
“Some suspects were arrested on April 4 for their involvement in a case of armed robbery of one Jamiu Mohammed of Bakery Quarters Oguta, in Imo State. However, investigation further revealed that the first suspect 32-year-old Anayo Oti Kalu Musa aka General was connected with the kidnap of one Mrs. Tina Ebi of 27, Enugu Road, Oguta, that occurred on December 16, 2016, in which he escaped and other members of his gang were arrested and charged to court.
“Following a tip-off received on April 1, 2017 from Umunaka Ugiri in Isiala Mbano L.G.A. that one notorious kidnap kingpin Kosieme Onyenze of same village came home with strange faces, police swung into action; the hoodlums on sighting operatives of the Command took to their heels, a well-coordinated search was conducted and the above named victim who was kidnapped on March 31, 2017, was rescued unhurt and his vehicle recovered. Investigation is on and efforts are on to track down members of the kidnap syndicate.
“A suspect, Kejechukwu Edozie Uka, who has been on the wanted list of the Command for his involvement in several cases of armed robbery and cultism, was arrested on April 9, 2017. He has been a thorn in the flesh of innocent Imolites.
“Two suspects, Agusi Uche and Anselem Odidika, were arrested at Umuhu Okabia in Orsu L.G.A on April 7 for armed robbery. Suspects have made useful statements confessing to the crime and they will be charged to court soon.
“On March 25, 2017 operatives of the Command while on routine patrol at Umuokpara Nsu in Ehime Mbano L.G.A. arrested a 22-year-old man – Ibede Henry of Otedmank in Warri, Delta State, while trying to rob an innocent citizen. On sighting the police operatives, other members of his gang took to their heels. Suspect has made useful statement to the police confessing to the crime and efforts are on top gear to track down the fleeing members of the gang. He was arrested with one locally made Barreta pistol Investigation is still ongoing and suspect would be charged to court soonest.
“One Ibrahim Abdulahi was arrested for his involvement in a robbery incident that occurred at Nekede Old Road on January 14, 2017, where one Mrs. Okonya Kennedy Uche was dispossessed of her Honda Accord car with Reg. No. OGE 375 AR at gunpoint. However, following a painstaking investigation, operatives of the Command trailed other suspects to different locations in Nassarawa and Plateau States respectively where the said vehicle was subsequently recovered.
“Some suspects who specialized in defrauding unsuspecting applicants wishing to join the Nigerian Army were arrested on April 4, at Amakohia Ubi in Owerri West L.G.A. following a tip-off. Investigation revealed that the affected candidates were ignorantly mandated by the suspects to pay N8, 000 and N70, 000 for medical tests and recruitment/training exercises respectively. Suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be charged to court soon.
“The suspects, 32-year-old Chijindu Ofili and 34-year-old Amafor Chidi, who specialize in drugging unsuspecting tricycle operators and snatching their tricycles from them were arrested on March 24 at Orji in Owerri North L.G.A. following a tip-off. Investigation further revealed that the tricycles were snatched from Obigbo in Rivers State and brought down to Imo State. Investigation is ongoing and suspects would be charged to court soon.
“Also arrested were Shetima Mohammed of Kano State, Mokan Jonah Phillip from Adamawa and Uzoukwu Odinaka of Obodo Amaimo in Ikeduru LGA. They were arrested on March 26 while stealing long span aluminium roofing sheets and Alumaco frames from the newly constructed school building at Amaimo Central School.
“Those arrested for child stealing are Chibueze Nwaozuzu of Amaigbo in Nwangele LGA and Comfort Umunnakwe of old Nekede Road.
“Following a report received of a missing 6-year-old male child, Chinecherem Anoruo, Chibueze Nwaozuzu was arrested for his involvement. Suspect made useful statements to the police confessing to the crime. He stated that he stole the child and sold her to one Comfort Umunnakwe for N200, 000. Comfort has been arrested and the stolen child recovered from her. The sum of N83, 000 being part of the proceeds of the sale of the child was also recovered from Chibueze Nwaozuzu.
“The suspect, Obichukwu Obiji, who claimed to be a renounced cultist, was arrested on April 9 along Uzo Mmiri Road, Nekede, in possession of a locally made short gun.”
Ezike, who is the 32nd CP in Imo, took over from CP Fredrick Taiwo Lakanu, who is now Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Federal Operations.
He commended Lakanu for the professional service rendered to the people of Imo State and pledged to build on his legacies.
Ezike returned to Imo on April 9 after a meeting, in Abuja on April 5, with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris, alongside other senior officers who received a directive to engage in robust fight against violent crime, focus on intelligence led policing, quick and timely response to distress calls and Community engagement.
“I came back to Imo State on April 9 and fully resumed duties on Monday, April 10,” he said.
He commended the Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for what he described as his passion for the noble course of peace and security in Imo State.
“This is very reassuring and forms the impetus for this drive,” he said.
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